KHSU and the Humboldt Fish Action Council (HFAC) have teamed up on a unique Adopt-A-Salmon program collaboration to take place during the public radio station’s upcoming fundraising drive April 5 -12, a news release stated.

Donors who call into the drive with a pledge or those who contribute online will have the opportunity to adopt and name a live coho salmon that comes into Freshwater Creek to spawn. The donation will be used to benefit both KHSU and to help the Humboldt Fish Action Council better understand and protect the needs of the local salmon fisheries resource.

“Each adopted fish that enters our Freshwater Creek facility will be identified, measured, tagged and immediately released to continue its upstream migration,” Doug Kelly, HFAC executive director explained in the release. “The tag technology allows us to track and log the fish’s movements continuously throughout the spawning season. Those data are critical for us to understand the behaviors and habitat needs of these animals so we can help them to thrive for future generations.”

“Our partnership with HFAC to help protect the local salmon resource could not come at a more important time,” said KHSU General Manager Elizabeth Hans McCrone. “We hear dire news every day about the condition of the fisheries industry and wonder what we can do about it. Well, the Adopt- A-Salmon program is something positive that we can do.”

The theme for this year’s spring pledge drive is KHSU: Connecting Community For More Than 47 Years. Throughout the drive, the station will be featuring local non-profit organization “pledge partners” and promoting the services they provide to residents throughout the North Coast community.

In addition to the Humboldt Fish Action Council, KHSU has partnered with Hospice of Humboldt, Food for People, the Humboldt Breast Health Project, Six Rivers Planned Parenthood, the Humboldt Film and Digital Media Commission, the City of Arcata, the Del Norte Association for Cultural Awareness, the Wild Rivers Community Foundation, the Northcoast Environmental Center, Humboldt Senior Resource Center, North Coast Big Brothers Big Sisters, Redwood Curtain Theatre, the Humboldt Folklife Society, Blue Ox Millworks, and others.

For more information on the pledge drive or the Adopt-A-Salmon program, the station can be contacted at 707-826-6085 or online at khsu.org.